174 



ANATOMY FOR NURSES 



[Chap. X 



Lymph Spaces. — The minute irregular spaces which exist 

 between the cells of which the tissues are composed are called 

 lymph spaces. They are filled with lymph, and in them the 

 lymphatics begin. 



Lymph vessels. — The plan upon which the lymphatic system 

 is constructed is similar to that of the blood vascular system, 

 if we omit the heart and the arteries. In the lymph spaces we 

 find the closed ends of minute microscopic vessels, called lymph 

 capillaries, which are comparable to, but somewhat larger than, 

 the blood capillaries. These lymph capillaries unite to form 

 larger vessels called lymphatics, which are comparable to the veins. 

 The lymphatics continue to unite and form larger and larger 

 vessels until finally they converge into two main channels, (1) the 

 thoracic duct, and (2) the right lymphatic duct. 



The thoracic duct. — The thoracic duct begins at the second 

 lumbar vertebra and ascends upward to the seventh cervical. 

 It lies in front of the bodies of the vertebrje, gradually inclining 

 towards the left, until, when on a level with 

 the seventh cervical vertebra, it turns outward 

 and arches downward and forward to termi- 

 nate in the innominate vein at the point of 

 junction of the left internal jugular and left 

 subclavian. 



It is from fifteen to eighteen inches (375-450 

 mm.) long in the adult, and is about the size 

 of a goose quill. It receives the lymph from 

 the left side of the head, neck, and chest, all of 

 the abdomen and both lower limbs, also the 

 chyle from the lacteals. It is dilated below, 

 where it receives the lymphatics from the lower 

 limbs and the chyle from the lacteals, the dil- 

 atation being known as the chyle cistern (re- 

 ceptaculum chyli). (See Fig. 135.) 



The right lymphatic duct. — The right lym- 

 phatic duct is a short vessel, usually from one 

 to one and one-half inches (25 to 38 mm.) in 

 length. It pours its contents into the in- 

 nominate vein at the junction of the right internal jugular and 

 subclavian veins. 



Fig. 110. — V.\LVES OF 

 THE Lymphatics. 



